Macs cheaper in long run

[alfredo]

http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/08/macs.cheaper.than.pcs/

Salon: Macs indeed cheaper than PCs

Despite popular perceptions, Macs are cheaper computers to own than PCs, a new article argues. Although the Salon piece concedes that most Macs are more expensive than comparatively-powered PCs when purchased, they are said to maintain better resale value, offsetting any initial costs. Held up as examples are last year's HP Pavilion Media Center A1640n, and a Mac mini; although the Mini would have cost $799 versus the A1640n's $699, while being less powerful, the resale value for the A1640n has plummeted, and is now between $236 and $257 on eBay. By contrast, the Mac mini is going for $445 to $500, netting a $50 advantage.

Similar price balancing can occur with notebooks. A Dell Inspiron E1505 from last year, selling for $999, is now on resale at a peak of $550. A comparable MacBook would have been $1,099, but these are now on eBay for costs between $710 and $800, easily recouping the difference or improving it.

The article contends that the difference is attributable to an inherent longevity in Macs, which makes them useful for as much as five years, whereas some PC owners may have to upgrade every one or two years. Apple also has more brand value, particularly because it has devotees who will only buy Macs.

[Bongo Prophet]

1. Total cost of ownership, even if you do NOT sell, is a big factor for me

In my experience as an owner/user and sometimes tech help for multiple platforms, the cost of TIME involved in keeping mac vs win running virus/malware free or the cost of fiddling with linux over small issues (drivers, mostly) it is no contest. If you place a value on that time, and I certainly do. This may be different if one is a tinkerer.

Also, I do not feel the sluggishness that develops, and keep the useful life of the machines on average 1.5-2 years longer. That is part OS and part software, plus the cruft factor.

Building a system from scratch has some benefits, and some enjoy that. For the most part, I would rather get work done on music or art projects, or even just safely surfing the net without worrying so much about dity tricks...

Plus OsX is my favorite OS since my amiga days. Never have I had so little trouble!
This is important when one has several machines in a network and friends who need very little tech help.

[alfredo]

2. My last computer is nearly eight years old. I still use it

because of Leopard compatibilites issues with Photoshop and printing with my HP.

[rocktivity]

3. My G3 is closing in on its TENTH year, and I've only JUST maxed it out

with a G4 processor card, USB/Firewire, a Super drive, a bigger hard drive, and a video card. Total expenditure over the years: just under $800, much less than a new Mac or PC would cost. I'm getting a Mac Mini next Christmas.

:headbang:
rocknation

[alfredo]

4. I really like my Mini.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Welll I hate to throw water here

but part of the problem is that most WIN owners have NO clue how to maintain their machines

My Tablet PC is seven years old (though I replaced it with a macbook), and our gaming machine we finally replaced it after eight years.

Greaned... VISTA is a nightmare

But part of the problem with WIN owners is that most have NO CLUE how to maintain the hardware and the OS...

Though I have spent at times hours chasing demons (malaware, etal) And have used Linux from time to time on the tablet which actually helped extend its lifetime.

But then again, my electronics, I don't buy them every two years, and I expect both machines to last anywhere from six to eight years... so the savings has started for the next replacements... and yes I will get a mac....

I love not to have to fight with the OS.. but we will still get a WIN... for the gamer in the family (and my graphics programs.. when we get him his gaming machine... the specs are ideal for 3D as well)

[Bongo Prophet]

6. Agreed, and computing should be troublefree to the extent possible

I followed your journey, and sympathized with your frustrations -glad you found some good solutions.
That's what it's all about.


I have 2 XP machines, no vista.
Several OsX machines (Muffin and I have powerbooks, an imac music server and MDD tower as our network)
Linux installs and BeOS are for tinkering, and I still have some mac classic Os9 machines.
Amigas still have some use as music machines (midi sequencing and algorithmic software)

The OsX machines are the least fiddly of the modern machines(defined as fiddling with updates or otherwise fixing the system, or looking up command line tweaks, etc)

The amigas also owrked for years without doing anything to them, ever.
An SGI in the closet rarely gets turned on because it is loud as hell, but IRIX was a pretty damn stable unix version. Still had to get all geeky with xwindows config and whatnot.

All just to illustrate that I have seen quite a few Oses, and used to have to tinker quite a bit with most. But in the past few years, OsX has made me spoiled and lazy!

The XP machine I built has a dead power supply right now, but it is a real workhorse for multitrack synth and recording. I connect to my tower mac g4 to send 24+ digital tracks around via adat - eight tracks of audio over a tiny wire. These days, everybody plays well together, and I never discard a thing. Good tools at the right time.
After all, it is the art or the writing or the music or the websites that matter.

Wish I had these tools years ago, instead of tracking on tape.
Kids today don't know how lucky they are.:)

[rocktivity]

7. DING DING DING! Nadinbrzezinski, you're our grand prize winner!

...part of the problem is that most WIN owners have NO clue how to maintain their machines...
All the upgrades on my G3 that I mentioned upthread I was able to install myself, and I can barely pump gas. I wouldn't have dreamed of attempting them on a PC.

:headbang:
rocknation

[alfredo]

10. the newer Pro models are very easy to maintain and upgrade.

You won't drop screws because much is clipped in, and those parts that need screws have the type that don't come loose from their mooring.




Look Ma! No loose wires.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I don't touch hardware

but I do the OS maintainaince

Hell simple things like disk defrag is critical... though Vista automated it in the deep bowels of the machine

But you have no cliue how many WIN users go... but, but. but my drive is slow

When was the last time you did a disk defrag?

What is that?

That is why (one of the few good things about Vista for the end user... and OSX) it is done in the background

[alfredo]

9. With Boot Camp you can boot into Win on the Mac and it will run

as if it was on a PC.

One other thing about the Mac: They are designed to encourage an emotional bond. There's a softness to the graphics. Muted colors, not primary colors and bright pastels are used. That could be why Macs last longer.

[MilesColtrane]

8. In my experience...

...I've only replaced one Mac that I've owned because of mechanical failure. It was an 8 and a half year old Performa that finally bit it.

My G4 is over 6 years old and I haven't even begun to upgrade it. (other than adding another drive)